Title: Loco Roco 2
Platform: PSP
Genre: Platformer
Release Date: 21 November 2008
Developer: SCEJ
Publisher: SCEE
Rating: PEGI 7+
WHAT IS… Loco Roco 2?
Loco Roco 2 is unsurprisingly the sequel to Loco Roco, arguably one of the best titles to grace the PSP within recent years. Created by Sony’s japan studios, Loco Roco was a simple and imaginative platformer which gave a new twist to the 2D platforming genre. Sony simplified the game and made it more accessible by reducing the control system to three buttons. This simplicity combined with its cute and charming artistic style made it a must have PSP game. With this to build upon can Loco Roco 2 live up to expectations?
GRAPHICS 10/10
It uses the same game engine as the original Loco Roco so the graphics are not improved overall since the first game, but how much improvement could be done from the original. It is still as charming and sharp as before. Okay there may not be anything new in terms of graphics but there was never really any need for graphical improvement the levels are varied and rich with colour and dripping in charm and almost every part of the game just looks very very nice on the PSP’s screen. The artistic style of Loco Roco is lovable and I can’t think of anyone who will not be seduced by its looks.
+ Sharp visuals
+ Adorable artistic style
STORY 7/10
Loco Roco has never been hugely about story, seems as no one actually speaks (the Mui Mui’s will give advice on the levels but all the Rocos and Mojas speak gibberish) it is quite hard to put across a deep and engaging story. There is a story, which I won’t give away, and it is easy to understand and generally nothing amazingly groundbreaking. Just about all of the background information is conveyed in cut scenes with absolutely no dialogue. It could be argued that the lack of dialogue keeps in the idea of simplicity the game continues to bring. Just about all parts have been made very accessible without being especially ‘dumbed down’ and the simplistic story fits in with the simple art style and simple gameplay.
+ Simple, easy to understand storyline
+ Compliments the games accessible and simple feel
- Absolutely no dialogue
- No ground being broken
LONGEVITY 6/10
The actual storyline consists of around 25 levels and a few boss fights but seems as it is fairly hard to get yourself killed you can probably get through the game in under 6 hours and be pretty satisfied that you have pretty much seen all levels and played all the mini-games you’d want to. I guess there are quite a few collectibles to get if you’re the kind of person who likes to get every single collectible possible in a game (Keep in mind the PSP does not have any kind of trophy/achievement system). At least the game doesn’t arbitrarily lengthen itself by forcing you to go through every single level at least twice (looking at you SSBB and DMC4) and it doesn’t overstay its welcome and at the price of £19.99 (PSN Price) it’s not too bad of a deal but all this still doesn’t distract you from the fact that it is very short.
+ Doesn’t overstay its welcome
- Short, really short
GAMEPLAY 9/10
If you haven’t already noticed the whole Loco Roco ethos is centered around the idea of simplicity and this is shown a great deal through the gameplay mechanics. All of the action can be controlled by only three buttons which makes it very easy to pick up and get stuck in and doesn’t pull the trick which other games do of arbitrarily throwing needless gameplay mechanics which are only used about two or three times throughout the game. There have been some additions from the original Loco Roco, for example whenever you go to sing at something (it will make sense if you’ve played the first) then you get into a mini-game where you have to press O button in time with the song, a simple addition it may be but it is a nice one nonetheless. Apart from a few new mini games the gameplay is in very familiar territory, but if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.
+ Same simple gameplay as the first one
FUN 10/10
I guess there is only one way to put this, this is quite possibly the most fun you will ever have with your PSP. The graphics and gameplay and just the general charm of the game all come together to make it an experience you will enjoy for a long time to come. It’s simplicity translates to pure, simple, fun.
++ Pure fun
OVERALL 8.4/10 
It is easy to recommend this game to just about anybody, it’s cute and charming and some of the very best fun you could ever have. If you can ignore how short it is (I’m sure it’s budget price will help that) and can make sense of its storyline conveyed entirely without dialogue then you will completely fall in love with this game.
BETTER THAN: Loco Roco (PSP)
WORSE THAN: Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Submitted by Braindead Hero
